Rotterdam
Travel destination popular things to do or visit in Rotterdam sometimes surprise even the locals, who still get lost in the tangle of bridges and cubes. The Markthal stands with its food smells, and there’s a market where a man in a red hat once sold me a cheese I could not pronounce. Water taxis zip around the river like they’re in a hurry for dinner. Bicycle lanes appear, disappear—watch your toes. You could search for the best hotel in Rotterdam, though I once found a room above a jazz club that threw in earplugs for free, maybe that was a hint. Museums line up like dominoes, but if you blink, you might end up at a random street art mural instead. Locals recommend the fries, but only if you can handle five sauces at once.
Local weather in Netherlands
SPRING
mild & temperate
SUMMER
warm & sunny
AUTUMN
mild & temperate
WINTER
cool
Accommodations in Rotterdam
Discover the best accommodations for Rotterdam and start planning your holiday.
Things to do in Rotterdam for long-term visitors
Travel destination popular things to do or visit in Rotterdam include more than just the classic windmills—although there’s a pretty nice one if you squint past the skyscrapers. Cobblestone lanes lead to places where old warehouses now host pop-up art, and sometimes, a line of people waiting for a sandwich that’s famous for reasons no one can remember. If you stay longer, you might notice the trams have their own secret timetable, but nobody seems to mind.
The best hotel in Rotterdam could be the one where the breakfast smells like pancakes, or the one where you accidentally meet a philosopher in the elevator. Some say the city is always changing its face, which is probably why no map ever seems up-to-date—try not to end up in the port by mistake, unless you love shipping containers. I once spent a whole afternoon looking for a statue that had moved, only to find a street musician who said the statue now plays guitar. Rotterdam, she keeps you on your toes, and your wallet, but you’ll leave with stories, and possibly a bicycle you didn’t mean to rent.
Other cities around Netherlands
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